Chelsea vs Newcastle Betting Preview

You have to go back to the 1931/1932 season to unearth Newcastle's last victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup - the Blues have lowered the Magpies' colours in four subsequent ties in this competition - and it looks likely that the current trend will be upheld on Sunday.Newcastle are likely to be buoyed by their mid-week UEFA Cup victory and will not go down without a fight with the St James' Park faithful firmly behind them. However, Chelsea will prove too strong and I'm surprised that they can be backed at 10-11 in the outright win market, which looks a shade generous if you ask me.The last time the two sides met was in the Premiership on December 4 and Chelsea gave Graeme Souness' men a 4-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge. In that encounter, Newcastle defended doggedly in the first half, keeping the West London sides livewires at bay, only to fold in the second half and concede four, which started with a trademark Frank Lampard strike in the sixty-third minute.Indeed, Newcastle's defence is their weakest link; in their last 16 matches in all competitions this season they have kept just two clean sheets - against lowly Yeading in the last round in January and perennial strugglers West Brom in the Premiership under a week earlier - and the fact the newly recruited defender Jean-Alain Boumsong is currently sidelined through injury adds to their woe.By contrast, Jose Mourinho's men can boast 12 clean sheets out of their last 16 matches in all competitions - a statistic that exemplifies their defensive prowess and it's becoming increasingly difficult to find chinks in this team's armour.Newcastle will doubtlessly play tight and aim to repel Chelsea's attack, while trying to sting the visitors on the break. The first half may prove to be tactical affair, but if the Blues do not break the deadlock before the interval, I think we will see the game open up in the second half. Crucially, Jose Mourinho will want his side to put this game to bed, thus avoiding any replays with a hectic schedule ahead - just the small matters of retaining a seemingly unassailable lead in the Premiership and an appointment with Barcelona in the Champions League at the Nou Camp on February 23.With this in mind, in addition to a wager on the away win at 10-11, the 4-1 offered by Sporting Odds about draw/Chelsea in the half time/ full time market makes plenty of appeal.Betting verdict1) Away win 3pts @10/11 ( Bet 365, Stan James & Gamebookers)2) Draw/Chelsea 1pt @ 4/1 (Sporting Odds)